Knockdown wardrobe.



E. N. JOHNSON.

KNOGKDOWN WARDROBE,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1912.

' Patented Oct. 14,-1913.

www@ o Y?? 75.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsHlNOToN. D. C.

. JOHNSON.

KNOGKDOWN WARDROBE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

3 SHEET S-SHEET 2.

Strom/legs CoLuMlfx PMNOGRAPH co.. wAsHlNuToN. D. c.

E. N. JOHNSON.

KNOGKDOWN WARDROBE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2a, 1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co1, WASHINGTON, D. C.

TTF@ STATES PATENT @Ffi ELTON N. JOHNSON, OF HARRISON VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNOCKDOJVN .VARDROBE.

Application led June 29, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELTON N. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrison Valley, in the county of Potter and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Vardr-obes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to knock-down or portable wardrobes and has for its general object to provide a simple and efficient device of this character which may be folded into compact form so as to be convenient for transportation, which-may be used as a seat, as a storage receptacle, or for other purposes when folded, and which may be readily set up in operative position.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe of this character in which the bottom of the wardrobe is adapted to act in the capacity of a receptacle for the upright frame parts thereof and for other purposes, the lid of said receptacle serving as a top for the wardrobe without the provision of an auxiliary top7 the said lid7 when the wardrobe is folded, being hinged to said receptacle in such a manner as to afford convenient access thereto without. the necessity of first distending the frame parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and light knock-down frame structure which, when set up, will be possessed of great rigidity, which will inclose the contents of the wardrobe in a satisfactory and dust proof manner and which will afford convenient access to said contents.

These and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely and that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the wardrobe set up for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the frame parts with the fabric covering removed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 14, 1913.

Serial No. 706,769.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section looking toward the front of the wardrobe. Fig. i is a horizontal section through the wardrobe looking upwardly. Fig. 5 is a view of the device in folded position. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the detachable hinges connecting the base'and top. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the edge 0f the door illustrating the means for connecting the fabric covering therewith. Figs. S and 9 are detail sectional views through the door and roller respectively. Fig. vl() is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the roller.

The base of the wardrobe comprises a receptacle l, preferably supported upon legs et, and which contains the upright frame parts of the wardrobe when the latter are folded. Said receptacle may be of sufficient capacity to serve as av storage receptacle for other articles than these frame parts and may further, as herein shown, be provided with a drawer 52 for such purposes. S-aid base is preferably provided with skirting strips 2 secured thereto and forming the sides and ends of the upper portion of thel receptacle. This receptacle when the wardrobe is folded, is closed by means of a lid or cover 5 detachably connected therewith by means of separable hinge members 6. One of the leaves of each of said hinge members is secured to said lid or cover, the other leaf thereof being secured to the upper edge of the skirting strip. One of the leaves of each hinge is provided with a pintle loosely received by the other leaf thereof in such a manner that the top may be detached from the base by sliding the same longitudinally thereof. Zhen said hinge members are connected the lid is hinged to the base and may e readily lifted to afford access thereto independently of the frame members in said receptacle, and when closed enables the device as a whole to be used as a seat or for other similar purposes. Vithin the corners cf the receptacle are secured sockets 53 in which are received the upright members 7 of the frame, which are formed in sections 8 and 9 connected by hinges 10.

54 denotes spring latches adapted to sec-ure said uprights in extended position. The upper sections of said uprights are provided with upwardly extending pins 1l, which engage apertures in the corners of the cover or top 5 when said cover is detached from the base and used as the top of the Wardrobe.

The frame composed of the base, top, and uprights is strengthened or stiifened by inclined braces 14 connecting diagonally opposite corners of the ends of the frame, and similar braces 16 connecting diagonally opposite corners of the rear of the frame. The braces consist each of four links 17 loosely connected together by a central ring 18, the upper members thereof being provided with eyes 19 which engage screw hooks 15 secured to the under side of the top 5, and the lower members thereof being provided with hooks 2O engaging lips or flanges formed on the sockets 53.

Interposed between the top and the upper edge of the forward skirting strip 2 is a folding door jamb formed in separate sections hinged together, as at 23, and held in rigid, distended position, when the wardrobe is set up, by an arm 24 pivoted to one section and slotted at its free end to engage a headed stud 25, carried by the other section. This j amb is provided at its ends with longitudinally extended fingers 26 which detachably engage straps or staples 27 on the inner sides of the flange 30 depending from the top 5 and the skirting strip 2, respectively. This jamb member is further provided at its ends with longitudinally extending pins 28 which engage holes 29 formed in the skirting strip and in the depending flange 30.

The door comprises a folding frame including lower and upper frame sections 32 and 31, hinged together at 33, and provided respectively with a pivoting pintle 34, which enters an aperture 35 formeel in the skirting piece 2 and with an aperture to receive a similar pintle 60 projecting from the flange 3() of the top 5. The frame sections 31 and 32 are held in rigid, distended position, when the wardrobe is set up, by a catch or brace 56 pivoted to one of said sections and engaging a headed stud 57 projecting from the other section.

The free edges of the door sections are provided with grooves 36 which receive retaining rods 37 located in a hem formed at the edge of the fabric covering 38. At one side of the groove a series of half headed screws 39 are threaded into the free vertical edges of the door sections and are adapted to be turned over the rods 37 after the same have been run through the hem in the fabric, thereby detachably securing said fabric to the edge of the door. The opposite end of the fabric 38 is attached to a roller 45 eX- tending between and journaled in the base 1 and top 5. The means for securing said fabric to said roller are preferably substantially the same as those employed for securing said fabric to the door, the same comprising rods 41 passing through a hem in the end of the fabric and seated in grooves 42 in the roller 45, said rods being held in place in said grooves by half headed screws 47. The

roller 45 is formed in two sections 43 and 44 connected by a socket 46 secured to one of said sections and in which the other of said sections is seated.

The roller is provided at its opposite ends with pintles 48 and 49, the former engaging an aperture formed in the base 1, and the latter engaging an aperture formed in a retaining spring or keeper plate 50 secured to the top 5. It will be understood that the fabric covering 38j which is secured at one end to the free edge of the door, passes inside said door and around outside of the uprights 7 and 1s secured at its opposite end to the roller 45. By rotating the roller said covering is wound up thereon and is tightened around the uprights and on the door. In order to hold the roller in operative position a ratchet 51 is secured to the upper end of said roller, said ratchet coperating with a. lip 58 formed on the plate 50 and acting as a pawl. In order to insure that the fabric 38 shall be tightly stretched at its upper and lower edges, thereby providing a dust proof covering and preventing the edges of said fabric from sagging away from the top and base respectively, the roller 45 is provided at its ends with enlargements 59 or portions of slightly greater diameter than the intermediate portion thereof.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A portable wardrobe comprising a hollow base, a top adapted to form therewith a closed receptacle, separable hinge members detachably connecting said top and base, folding frame members detachably connected with said top for supporting the same when said top is disconnected from said base, said frame members when folded being received within said base, and a fabric covering for inclosing said frame members.

2. A portable wardrobe comprising a hol.- y

low base, sockets secured to said base, a top adapted to form with said base a closed receptacle, separable hinge members connecting said top and base, folding uprights received in said sockets and detachably connected with said top for supporting the same when said top is disconnected from said base, said uprights when folded being received within said base, and a fabric covering inclosing said uprights.

3. In a portable wardrobe, a frame comprising a base, a top, and folding uprights detachably connected with said top for supporting the same from said base, inclined braces detachably connected to the corners therewith, and a fabric covering'inclosing ing said uprights.

4. In a portable wardrobe, a frame comprismg a base, a top, and folding uprights detachably connected with said top for supporting the same from said base, inclined braces detachably connected to the corners of said frame, each of said braces comprising a central ring and links extending from said ring to the corners of said frame and having means for detachable connection therewith, and a fabric covering inclosing said uprights.

5. A portable wardrobe comprising a base, sockets carried by said base and provided with flanges, a top` folding upriglis received in said sockets and detachably connected with said top for supporting the same from with hooks engaging said flanges, and a 15 fabric covering inclosing said uprights.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, 1n presence of tivo Witnesses.

ELTON N. JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

W. F. CADY, GEO. MICHELFELDER, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the. Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

